Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-06-20
aluuth s Column.
THE Gray Wolf

& ana Aunt Matte 1uCN were no
our real uncle and aunt; but we ha'
/ adopted them a such. because "
loved them. Uncle Laws had com
from kentucky 10 Indiana when i
was new with our grandfather
and been an overseer for him there
Our father st that time was but TIVE
wears old, and his mother had died
Good. kind. old Uncle Laws tool
entire care OF him, supplying as vel
as he could. that dead mothers place
with a devotion that never was for
gotten. Father says he can still re
member how big and thick the biscuits
were that he made and baked in :
spider on the Goals. For those years
Of kindness TO the motherless little
ones, he was loved and respected by
Us all.
Uncle Laws lived in a log house
OF three rooms. In the room used
By the family to sit in was a large
fireplace. ALWAYS filed with logs in
winter. and even in summer never
without a little fire. During the day
we would enjoy ourselves out OF
doors Is only children can; but when
the short day closed, those homesick
feelings which a town-bred child al
WAYS feels in the stiffness Of the coun-
Try would attack Us, and q longing TO
see papa and mamma would come
over Us. As we sat on the little
stools Uncle Laws had made espec-
tally for Us, gazing into the fire, ev-
cry noise of wind or trees to our
childish imaginations was a wolf or
bear. although they had long since
disappeared from the country. Once
in q while we could hear 4 fox bark
in the ravine back Of the house, or
a coon disturbing the chickens.
Nell, who was gazing into the
depths Of the fire silently, suddenly
said:
AUNT Katie, did You ever see 4
great, big wolf"
Yes. child" answered Aunt
Katie. And, from the look in her
face, We knew she had something
interesting to tell u.
..Oh, do tell Us, we said in cho-
rus, .-alI about it
when we first came to this coun-
try there were deer, foxes, wild tur-
KEYS. and even 4 bear was found in
the woods. I was a little girl then.
only ten years old. One day mother
called TO me, as Marg and l were
playing near the spring, and told me
that she wanted me 10 90 Oh an eF-
rand for to our nearest neighbOr's. a
mile and a half away, across the big
woods. As It was early in the after
noon. she said that l might take
Marg with me. but not to be gone
too late. as there were varmints, as
We called all small wild animals,
such as weasels. foxes, coons and
'possums, in the woods.
In those days there were no stores
nearer than twenty miles. at which to
buy things we needed. Mother spun
the warn 10 make stockings. linsev
for our dresses and cloth for the men
folks and blue and white coverlets
Father had learned 70 make rough
shoes for Us children. Mother had
borrowed a fat-ir0n and q reed for
running the threads Of the warp
through in weaving. and we were to
take them home. I remember well
our pretty red and blue plaid dresses
at that very time
We started about three O'Clock.
Marg carrying the fat-iron and | the
reed. We were not bit afraid and
a. We went along we amused our
selves BY burying each other in the
fallen leaves. for it was in November.
and in gathering the red berries Of
the wild roses to make necklaces Of.
In this way time passed quickly. and
We noticed that II was getting late
The sun was Low down. and | was
afraid that we would not get home
before dark. l took Marg's hand to
help her along faster, and said to her
that We couldn't play any more, for
we would brighten mother if We stay
ed late.
In these woods were many large
trees that had been blown down III
storms and had lain there for years.
until the soft green moss had covered
them Above the top Of one Of these
fallen trees. near the path. l saw
something shining ike a bright spot
Of light. ! looked closer to see
what it might he. Marg had not no
ticed it: and / didn't tell her to look.
for she was such a timid little thing.
l held her hand tighter. and hurried
faster. | was next TO the log, and
when L got near enough, l saw that
it was the shining eyes of a great.
hungry gray wolf, looking at Us over
the top Of the log"
20 Aunt Katie, weren't you scared
to death :" said Nell. shuddering and
drawing nearer to Uncle Laws.
Yes, I was terribly frightened, 50
that / can never forget just what a
feeling Of helplessness and dread of
death came over me. not 50 much for
myself, but my poor little sister. who
did not even know It was hidden